According to the Centers for Disease Control,
more than one third of adults 65 and older fall
each year in the United States and among older
adults, falls are the leading cause of injury
deaths. Falls are cited as the most common cause
of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions.
They are also one of the main reasons for long
term care placements and if your loved one falls
and needs placement to recover, the chances are
good that they will never return to their home.

So now that I have your
attention, it is time for us all to pay
attention to what we need to do to help prevent
our loved ones from falling. Some of the best
advice includes: home modifications, (including
clutter reduction), medication management
(consult with your loved one's doctor), balance
and strengthening exercises as well as regular
physical activity.

What better time to remind
yourself of the importance of fall prevention
for you and your loved ones than in the Fall
season. If we all act now, we can look forward
to having a better spring in our steps by this
Spring.

Watch for the
November/December issue of Today's Caregiver
magazine which will include even more advice for
fall prevention techniques.